WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. June 14, 2004: The City of White Plains today celebrated Flag Day in a moving ceremony in which Mayor Joseph Delfino, a World War II veteran, was joined by various veterans' groups thoughout the city to raise Old Glory in remembrance of the sacrifices of the servicemen and women who died in the service of that flag. The Marine Corps League dedicated a red mail box which will be installed at the White Plains main Post Office for citizens to drop off flags that are worn out, so that they may be "disposed of properly." The solemn and moving ceremonies were held on Renaissance Plaza at 11 A.M.

Mayor Defino and Veterans salute as Old glory is lowered to half-mast in memory of veterans and prisoners of war of America's past. Miniature American flags were handed out by the Marine Corps League to passersby. A crowd of some sixty persons gathered for the ceremonies. Mayor Delfino said "Americans are optimists," and that "spirit of eternal optimism is what our flag represents." Photo by WPCNR Special Events Staff

FLAGBOX INTRODUCED:  Jim Mazzone,  a Vietnam era Marine veteran at podium, with Mayor Delfino looking on (fifth from left on the dais), announced a League program to place Flagboxes, shown at left, at post offices throughout the County, where Americans may bring their flags and deposit them and the Marine Corps League will solemnly dispose of them in the proper manner, which is to burn the flag in a closed incinerator (not on an open fire). The first box will be installed at the White Plaisn Post Office. Photo by WPCNR Special Events Staff

A Gathering of Eagles: Three veterans spoke of the meaning of the American Flag. The most moving was the recitation by Dan Griffin (far left), of Senator John McCain's reminiscence of Mike Christian, a POW held in North Vietnam. McCain's narrative told how Christian knitted together an American Flag from scraps of cloth with a bamboo needle and each day he and his fellow prisoners salated the crude handsewn flag and repeated the Pledge of Allegiance. One day the North Vietnamese discovered Christian's flag. The took it from him, and beat him for two hours in front of his fellow prisoners. Afterwards, Griffin continued, McCain said the other prisoners cleaned Mike up "as best they could," and within hours, his eyes half shut from the beating administered him by the North Vietnamese guards, he sat in the corner attempting to knit another American flag. The next day he and his fellow prisoners again said the Pledge of Allegiance. After hearing this moving story, this reporter will never say the Pledge of Allegiance in quite the same way again. Photo by WPCNR Special Events Staff.